Declaration of the Báb

???? - Mu'in

Src: Resurrection and Renewal

In all probability the Bab had prior knowledge of the arrival of Mulla Husayn's party, possibly through his uncle or a relative in Bushihr... Hashtrudi, on the other hand, relates that, having formed a brief acquaintance in Karbala', they met again at the lectures of a religious teacher in Shiraz. There Sayyid 'Ali Muhammad gradually introduced Mulla Husayn to his claims. [Mu’in 56-57]

One day in the presence of the Bab al-Bab [Mulla Husayn's later title] in Khurasan [probably Mashhad], we were passing a madrasa. He looked at the school and recited this verse: "Not one warm-hearted man [ahl-i dil] has ever come out of a madrasa. Down with these schools which are houses of ignorance." I said, "By the Grace of God, eminent individuals like yourself have come out of these schools, why are you condemning them?" He replied, "Do not say that, Sayyid Mu'min, all that I ever learned in these wretched places was to make me argue with and oppose the Proof of God for forty days. I realized the meaning of the saying 'knowledge is the greatest veil' through the fruits of this ruined place. I wish I had no education." [Mu’in 62.-63]

???? - Fu'adi

Src: Resurrection and Renewal

[Account given by Waraqat aI-Firdaus, Mulli Husayn's sister, relating It from Aqa (Mulla) Muhammad Hasan Bushru'i, one of the survivors (Baqiyat al-Sayf: the Remnants of the Sword) in Tabarsi cited in Fu’adi, 28]

"I wish my steps had never reached the madrasa, so I would never have bothered the Proof of God for three days and nights."

???? - Qazvini

Src: Resurrection and Renewal

Mulla Jalil Uriimi, who was himself present in Shiraz, informs us that the teacher was none other than Mulla Husayn himself, now holding his teaching sessions on Ahsa'is Sharh al-Ziyara in the Vakil mosque. In the course of these lectures, Sayyid 'Ali Muhammad asked Mulla Husayn, "If someone expounded better than you, what would you say?" Mulla Husayn answered, "I will obey and listen." Then Sayyid 'Ali Muhammad asked what his reaction would be if someone expounded better than Rashti and even Ahsai'i, to which Mulla Husayn gave the same reply. Then Sayyid 'Ali Muhammad presented him with some of his writings. "Immediately after reading them," recalls Uriimi, "he was overwhelmed and deeply moved. But the Bab advised him to conceal his emotions. " [Qazvini 472]

Mulla Jalil Uriimi adds that Mulla Husayn "could not sleep the whole night for his inner struggle and mental occupation." [Qazvini 472]

1886 - Travellers Narrative (Anonymous)

1260, Conduct, Babhood

In the year one thousand two hundred and sixty [A.H.], when He was in His twenty-fifth year, certain signs became apparent in His conduct, behavior, manners, and demeanor whereby it became evident in Shiraz that He had some conflict in His mind and some other flight beneath His wing. He began to speak and to declare the rank of Bab-hood.* Now what He intended by the term Bab [Gate] was this, that He was the channel of grace from some great Person still behind the veil of glory, Who was the possessor of countless and boundless perfections, by Whose will He moved, and to the bond of Whose love He clung.

Surih Joseph

And in the first book which He wrote in explanation of the Surih of Joseph,* He addressed Himself in all passages to that Person unseen from Whom He received help and grace, sought for aid in the arrangement of His preliminaries, and craved the sacrifice of life in the way of His love.

Amongst others is this sentence: "O Remnant of God, I am wholly sacrificed to Thee; I am content with curses in Thy

way; I crave naught but to be slain in Thy love; and God the Supreme sufficeth as an Eternal Protection."

Other Commentaries

He likewise composed a number of works in explanation and elucidation of the verses of the Qur'an, of sermons, and of prayers in Arabic; inciting and urging men to expect the appearance of that Person; and these books He named "Inspired Pages" and "Word of Conscience." But on investigation it was discovered that He laid no claim to revelation from an angel.

Reactions of the People

Now since He was noted amongst the people for lack of instruction and education, this circumstance appeared in the sight of men supernatural. Some men inclined to Him, but the greater part manifested strong disapproval; whilst all the learned doctors and lawyers of repute who occupied chairs, altars, and pulpits were unanimously agreed on eradication and suppression, save some divines of the Shaykhi party who were anchorites and recluses, and who, agreeably to their tenets, were ever seeking for some great, incomparable, and trustworthy person, whom they accounted, according to their own terminology, as the "Fourth Support" and the central manifestation of the truths of the Perspicuous Religion.

Letters of the Living

Of this number Mulla Husayn of Bushruyih, Mirza Ahmad of Azghand, Mulla Sadiq Muqaddas [the Holy], Shaykh Abu-Turab of Ishtihard, Mulla Yusuf of Ardibil, Mulla Jalil of Urumiyyih, Mulla Mihdi of Kand, Shaykh Sa'id the Indian, Mulla 'Ali of Bastam, and the like of these came out unto Him and spread themselves through all parts of Persia.

Pilgrimage to Mecca, Persecution

The Bab Himself set out to perform the circumambulation of the House of God.* On His return, when the news of His arrival at Bushihr reached Shiraz, there was much discussion, and a strange excitement and agitation became apparent in
that city. The great majority of the doctors set themselves to repudiate Him, decreeing slaughter and destruction, and they induced Husayn Khan Ajudan-bashi, who was the governor of Fars, to inflict a beating on the Bab's missionaries, that is on Mulla Sadiq Muq'addas; then, having burnt his moustaches and beard together with those of Mirza Muhammad-'Ali of Barfurush and Mulla 'Ali-Akbar of Ardistan, they put halters on all the three and led them round the streets and bazaars.